As the Oscar nominations were revealed, Brazilians took to social media to celebrate I’m Still Here, which secured three major nominations: Best Picture, Best International Feature, and Best Actress for Fernanda Torres. Directed by Walter Salles and co-produced with France, the film’s dual recognition in the top movie categories is a groundbreaking achievement for Brazilian cinema.
This marks the first time a Brazilian film spoken entirely in Portuguese has been nominated for Best Picture, the Academy Awards’ most prestigious category. According to cinema experts, this significantly increases the film’s chances of taking home a prize.
Carlos Augusto Calil, a filmmaker and president of the Cinemateca Brasileira, highlighted the significance of the nomination: “I’m Still Here is competing with films from all over the world, including those from non-English-speaking countries. This is a great sign for Brazilian cinema.”
The last Brazilian-related film to receive a Best Picture nomination was Kiss of the Spider Woman (1986), a Brazil-USA co-production that also earned nods for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor, with William Hurt winning the award. However, that film was spoken primarily in English, making I’m Still Here’s nomination even more historic.
In an emotional Instagram post, Best Actress nominee Fernanda Torres expressed her pride in seeing a Brazilian story resonate globally. The film follows Eunice Paiva, a mother of five who struggles to uncover the truth about her husband’s disappearance during Brazil’s military dictatorship, while trying to rebuild her life.
“The fact that our movie was nominated not only for Best International Feature but also for Best Picture is something unimaginable,” Torres shared.
In recent years, only a handful of films—such as Parasite (2020) and The Zone of Interest (2024)—have received nominations in both categories, and they each won at least one Oscar.
Despite the excitement, the competition remains fierce. France-Mexico co-production Emilia Perez, which boasts 14 nominations, is also a contender for Best Picture and Best International Feature, making this year’s awards race particularly competitive.
Regardless of the final results, I’m Still Here has already made history, solidifying Brazil’s growing influence on the global cinematic stage.
READ MORE: